Hello all,
this is ameesage to all the musicians who are interested in the Festivalensemble Stuttgart project.
We are very sorry that there are - until further notice - no (in words: zero) projects planned for the FES.
With best wishes to you all,
Tobias

hi!! i am very interesting in try the audition for this orchestra, can you send me information about i can do it?thanks

Comment by Christopher Mahon | 01.12.2009

Wie gehts, tout le monde?

My two summers in the FES were truly wonderful. It was a chance to make many friends from around the world, to sing with exceptional musicians, to visit Germany, to learn a few important phrases in Deutsch, and to form memories that I'll treasure for the rest of my life. I hope FES will return in the future, but for now I'm grateful for the experiences that we've already had and the wonderful music we've made together.

Christopher

Comment by Charissa Barger | 07.11.2009

Hello! I'm interested in participating in the festival next summer. What are the application requirements for harpists? Thank you!

I would just like to say thank you to the Festivalensemble staff - because of your hard work and vision, you provided an opportunity for people to come together from all over the world and allowed them to make music together. Many of the fondest memories of my life have come from the experiences I shared with people I have met through this incredible festival, each summer. I appreciate all the little details (email reminders, snacks before the concert, posting pictures online, helping with administrative questions, etc.), and hope that most of all, the festival and the music will live on in the people who it inspired.

This was the 6th summer of FES for me! I enjoyed it so much! Thanks for a great FES 2009! Hope to see you all again!

Steffen

Comment by Shawn Oakes | 15.09.2009

I missed not being apart of this Summer's FES. Having spent 5 summers of my life with the FES has given me so much. I too have learned so much, grown and experienced wonderful times with some of the most talented people throughout the world. Thanks to everyone involved that made this possible and to those that I have had the opportunity to meet and become friends with.

When people here in Canada ask me about the program I just did here with FES, they just don't believe such programs exist. I must say this was my second year and I also had a hard time to believe it, again! How important is such a program? Super important! We students from around the world are already working very hard to study music and try not to be too much in debt. An opportunity to know other musicians from around the world and have a singing experience with great teachers and conductor, and also a little time to relax and visit another country, ALL of that for FREE ? What could a student want more? I am totally grateful for FESTIVALENSEMBLE to have given me this opportunity twice. I have learned, laughed, made contacts, and I got to understand a little more the different cultures of the world.

I feel that Germany is encouraging the arts a lot and that it is such an important part of society, for it defines it, and make its inhabitants nearer to high levels of emotions and reflexion. Arts are giving back to society in a more abstract but not less important way than other sectors. It is sad that FES must come to an end for it was so important for helping the young to get some experience.

I came back home changed. I am changed as a person and as a musician. I was unable to personally say goodbye to everyone, I ran away from the party, and kept only smiles and laughs in my memory....

But please do hear my most infinite THANK YOU FES TEAM and MR. RILLING !!!!!!

Comment by Maude Brunet | 12.09.2009

Dear festivalensemble team,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the best summer program I have never participated in! I had the chance to be part of FES two years in a row and I cannot believe this is the end. Those two months absolutely changed my life. I discovered a new country and a new culture, I made so many good friends from all around the world … and having the chance to work with a conductor such as Helmuth Rilling is priceless. I admire his passion and his generosity, giving year after year his time to young musicians, and I am deeply thankful for what I learned from him. I also learned a lot from Kathy Romey, of whom I admire the patience, the energy and the good spirits even during the most difficult rehearsals! I also learned a lot about my own instrument having the chance to work with Doris Dollinger for two years in a row. In only a few lessons, she helped me improve some technical aspects I was struggling on for a long time! Also, as a young singer, I learned a lot watching the professional soloist, how they work, how they react, how they sing.

It was also such a great opportunity for me, as a Canadian, to be able to visit Germany not only as a tourist but being part of a musical ensemble. I also had the opportunity to learn about the working possibilities in Germany, the schools, the young artists programs, all the options opened for a classical singer in this wonderful country.

I wish to say a special thank you to the Festivalensemble staff for such a great organization; everything was so well-prepared and well-organized. You made our stay in Germany such a unique experience.

I am now back home with my head full of new memories and my heart full of new friends. Those two months in 2008 and 2009 really changed my life. I hope deeply that this is not the end of Festivalensemble, that a sponsor somewhere will realize how important programs like yours are.

Thank you… and maybe see you soon!

Comment by Yuliya GUS)) | 11.09.2009

I wish to tell many thanks to all participants and organizers of the project! You have made for me and each other unusual things - you have presented pleasure to communicate and develop, have fun and professionally to be expressed. For me this summer was unexpected - thanks Tobias for the invitation. And I am not sorry about time left in Germany - on the contrary, in my life the purposes were defined, there was a confidence. And, the most important thing, I at last have understood with S-bun and U-bun!!! =))))
I will be glad to participate in the project if it revives. It is the great experiment which has collected set of different people and given the chance to us to find the best friends, and someone even has found the destiny. It is fine!!! I very much love you!!!

Comment by Marnie Reckenberg | 10.09.2009

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone at FES - administrators, conductors, teachers, and fellow musicians. I have never been with such an amazing group before, for fun, music and friendliness. Watching the "Best Of FES" movies made me realize how many memories I have of my FES summers, and how much these experiences have shaped my life. Life without FES? Unimaginable. FES Forever!!